Necktie-stretcher.



M. S. KUHNS.

IYECKTIE STRETCHER." APPLICATION FILED FEB- 8 191A? mwww. Eatented Apr. 29,1919.

INVENTOR WITNESSES.

MILTON S. KUHNS, 0F KTl'TZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

NECKTlE-STBETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 2%, lllllllillh Application filed February 8, 1918. Serial No. $216,079.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MILTON S. KUHNs, a citizen of the United States, residing Kirtztown, in the county of Berks and btate of Pennsylvania, have invented new and use- 'ful Improvements in Necktie-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends the provision of a device adapted to be positioned within a necktie or the like when the latter is not in use, for the purpose of stretching and pressing the tie.

The device consists of a pair of members pivotally connected at one end so as to be separated or spread subsequent to being positioned within the tie, codperating means being carried 'by the opposite extremitiesof the device for holding the members in active position.

The chief characteristic of the presentinvention resides in the provision of a pecul iarly constructed flat element carried adjacent the free extremity of one of said members and desiring to cooperate with means carried by the other member for effectively holding the members in extended in active position, as well as closely associated in a collapsed condition.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and Fig. 4: is a sectional view taken on the line 44: of Fig. 3. The device forming the subject matter of my invention embodies a pair of elongated members 10* and 11 respectively which may be constructed from any suitable material,

length and configuration. The members are pivoted together at one end in any suitable manner, the link 12 being utilized for this purpose in and pivoted to each of said members. As herein above stated, the device is primarily designed for use for stretching neckwear or like and as shown in Fig; l

is adapted to be positioned within the tie in a manner whereby the members 10 and 11 lie in adjusted positions to-the opposite longitudinal edges of the tie. By reason of the pivotal connection between said members,

the latter can be spread or separated the required distance to effect stretching of the tie, so that when the device is removed the tie will assume a tidy and substantially flat condition.

With a view of holding the members 10 and 11 respectively fixed relatively in extended or folded positions, use is made of a locking element 13 pivoted as at 14 upon the members 10 adjacent the free extremity thereof. A plurality of equidistantly spaced pins or teeth 15 project from one of the longitudinal edges of the locking element and are adapted to engage a stud 16 carried by the member 11 to hold said members fixed relatively in active position. When the looking element is used in this capacity it is disposed transversely of the device bridging the space between the members and can vary in length to permit of any desired adjustment of the members 10 and 11. The stud 16 is disposed substantially in alinement with the pivot 14 so that the members 10 and 1-1 are closely associated in a collapsed condition as clearly shown in 3, the book like extremity 17 of the locking element is capable of assuming a position to engage the stud 16, thus efi'ectively retaining the members 10 and 11 fixed relatively in folded positions. The hook like extremity 17 is caused to assume position for this purpose by swinging the latch element upon its pivot to lie parallel with and upon the members 10. This arrangement obviously provides for compactness, so that the device in its entirety occupies a minimum of space when not in use. The h0ok-like extremity 17 of the latch member is preferably although not neces sarily formed with a cam surface 18 to maintain its engagement with the stud 16in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. Again the stud 16 is so spaced with respect to the pivot lat of the latch and in transverse alinement therewith, that when the members 10 and 11 arebrought together in a folded position, it necessitates the hook-like extremity being forced into engagement with thestud 16, thus holding the members 10 and 11 to gether under tension. 1

While it is believed that from the fore- I going description the nature and advantages of the invention Will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that what is herein shown and described is merely illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, to which I do not limit myself, and. that such changes may be resorted to when desired-as fall within. the what is claimed.

What I claim '1. A device of the class described comprising a pair of pivotally connected members,

a stud carried by one of said members, a.

latch element pivoted upon the other member, pins-projecting from said element to engage said stud with the element disposed transversely of said members, whereby the latter are held fixedrelatively in extended positions,'said element having a hook like extremity adapted to be brought into enscope of" together at one end, a stud projecting from .one of said members, a latch element pivotally mounted upon the other of said members, and designed to engage the stud to hold said members fixed relatively, when the latch element is arranged to bridge the space between the members, and said element being further designed so that when the element is in'a position parallel with one (if the members it engages the stud to hold said members fixed relatively in contacting engagement.-

g In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MILTON s. KUHNS. 

